Retirement of NWA's Boeing747-200s

Pictures taken during the retirement of Boeing 747-200 Series, Boeing Airport, Seattle, Washington

Left: Guests were signing up for the event

Right: The 747-200 ready to land.

Things to do in Seattle

go to the Pike's Market

go to the Space Needle

visit the shops

visit Starbucks, Boeing and other major companies

go to farmers' and art markets.

Famous Landmarks in Seattle

Space Needle

Starbucks

Boeing

Microsoft

Bill Gates House

Seattle Great Wheel

Fremont Troll

The Retirement Event

Who could ever forget this memorable event! Two and halfyears ago, we bid goodbye to the Boeing wide-body 747-200, one of my favorite aircraft. I was invited to attend the celebration in Seattle at Boeing's airport. The 747-200 started in Minneapolis with employees, crew members, media, and other former and presnet flight crews who 'worked' the aircraft. Northwest Airlines

Flight 9987 left the Lindbergh (MSP) terminal on October 2 at 5:00pm.

The flight landed at the Boeing airport, and the celebration was at the Flight Museum. The 747 retired with a blast!What a celebration! What an energy inside the aircraft! You seldom see this kind when you are on one of our flights! Truly magnificent!

The aircraft arrived exactly at 631 pm at Boeing Field in Seattle. There was an all-day celebration at the Museum of Flight. Joe Sutter, the designer of 747 was there and he signed some of the guests' reception tickets. The Museum was open for all festivities and shows. At 600pm there was a photo shoot in front of the 747-200. The door to the reception opened immediately after that. And, what a reception. There Northwest and Boeing people know how to party. I did my part to help out: I was the lady in blue dress checking out your tickets, you guys. What a bunch of nice people! Pilots and their families; Northwest employees, guests and families; Delta employees and their guests and families. Beautiful people, beautiful music, excellent! Food tables were spread out all over. Wine bar all over. Thanks to the volunteers who made this happen. Carol Thompson volunteered her time, so were the other agents, supervisors, flight attendants who staffed the reception and guest check-in and the flight attendants who were by the aircraft door. On thereturn trip, the guests were checked in at a small terminal of Boeing Air Field. Everyone walked towards the aircraft. Pictures were taken. That day, I bet that is the most photographed aircraft in the world. Before the flight took off, the captain announced that he was requested by the people watching the flight to wave thewings for all the spectators. He warned us -- those of us who are not familiar with the sensation created when an airplane "waves" its wings.

Farewell Wave...Goodbye....

After the "waving" of the wings, the Captain announced that we the FAA approved that the aircraft fly really close to Mt. Rainier. He went around to position the aircraft so that we have a real close-up view of the mountain. All you could hear was wow, ohhh, and ahhhhs. What a magnificent view sitting inside a widebody aircraft! I want you to experience what the guests experienced so I will have a video at this page soon.